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@this-is-not-an-alien, @kimlikesart, @ragnarok, @sarafini

 

BURN

I twist my wrist free from Oscar. “Don’t touch me!”

Calm down. You’re overreacting. Just … breath.

Oscar very carefully puts his arms on my shoulders like I didn’t just tell him not to touch me. “It’s okay. You’re safe here.”

Grimme looks at my arm with brisk efficiency. I can feel her grow stiff. “Oscar, this looks just like…”

“I’m well aware.” He cuts through. Anyone who didn’t know them would think they were about to fight. But I’ve been around long enough to know that unique tone means they are actually about to get along.

Orb help whoever angered them!

 

SEARCH

Soooo. Grimme isn’t snapping back at Oscar. Instead they are doing that weird telepathic married-couple thing.

I wonder what it’s like. To know someone that deeply. That years later, when you – apparently – hate each other, you still know exactly what is on the other’s mind. Will I ever know someone that well?

Aaaaanyway. This isn’t getting me further away from the impending doom. Time to make sure everyone I remember is here. And see who else might have dropped in.

“Excuse me, Mrs. Search, can I speak with you for a moment?”

Mrs? “Yes?”

Alessio has already butted in, going to a poor little girl with a half-mask on. “Hi?” he whispers so gently.

Grimme? Are you sure this is what Burn used to be like?

“…may I hug you?”

Uh. Don’t. you’re on fire. You need to control your talent.

The girl just .. nods. She doesn’t return the hug, but lets it happen.

In the end, Crorie just nodded and let Alessio hug her. Although she did not return it.

“And who might you be?”

Ah. The irritating man. At least he is away from Burn. I’m not sure anyone is ready to deal with that.

“Are you a non-human? Like my family?” Um. The boy with the reptile hand.

Wait. Wait. Hold up. What do you mean non-human? You are obviously human…

I grit my teeth. Kid was raised around a bunch of purists wasn’t he?

“Look. If you are able to make decisions – exercise free will – you are human. And any … jerk” can’t teach him new words “who tells you otherwise is wrong. Okay? Introduce them to me and Burn. We’ll take care of that.”

I turn to … the one who looks vaguely reminiscent of Hades. “Um. Yes. What do you want to tell me?” Ugh this is awkward. “Look. Half the … unfortunates we were with turned to kids. You are Hades? Right?”